Recently, the Pakistani government has also evolved and has recently launched the new e-passport. The federal government has decided to issue these to the citizens once their old passports have expired. The new digital passport comes with many new things to offer the passport holder as it is about to make life a lot easier and simple.
What is an E-Passport?
An e-passport is a travel document that contains an electronic chip embedded in one of the passport pages. The chip contains data that will verify the passport holder’s identity. It will include the biometrics of the passport holder, the personal data found on the data page of the passport, a unique identification number, and a digital signature. An e-passport has a contactless (NFC) chip on it which means that the passport can be read electronically. The newly launched e-passports in Pakistan are in compliance with the United Nations ICAO standards.
New Features:
- Chip-based data storage with laser engraving
- Multiple security features including IR & UV
- e-Gate facility for immigration
- ICAO compliant standards
- Real-time match of personalized data at airports
How Is It Different From The Current Passport?
E-passports are being used in more than 150 countries across the world. Several countries have switched to e-passports due to the increasing need for efficient and better border security. New Pakistani e-passport holders can benefit from the e-gate facility at all airports around the world. It will also help eliminate all the hurdles in the ongoing manual system and will aid Pakistani applicants to process online applications conveniently. As we said earlier, life will become less complicated.
How Can You Get An E-Passport?
The application procedure is the same for an e-passport as it is for a normal passport. The documents required for an e-passport will be similar to that of a Machine Readable Passport (MRP). Applicants will receive the e-passports after the manufacturing process is complete. It is just as simple as it was before.
How Much Will It Cost?
According to the announcement, the fee for a five-year e-passport with 36 pages is Rs 9,000 under normal fees. For urgent requests, the fee is Rs15,000.
For a 10-year passport with 36 pages, the normal fee will be Rs13,500 and the urgent fee will be Rs22,500.
The normal fee for a five-year e-passport with 72 pages is fixed at Rs16,500 and the fee for an urgent passport is Rs27,500.
The normal fee for a 72-page 10-year e-passport is Rs24,750, and the urgent fee will be Rs40,500.
The issuance of these e-passports will initially be starting from Islamabad, with the date of issuance from other passport offices across the country to be announced later. Payments can be done both online and in person through National Bank, JazzCash, and EasyPaisa.
So, now, hopefully, everyone will be able to get their hands on the new e-passport.
Stay tuned to Brandsynario for more news and updates.
